The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-01
Meeting Friday Night.

Concordia hall, last night, contained large
and notably earnest gathering of unterrifed
young -prohbitionists, who came together
for the purpose of organizing the Young Mems
club.
There were calls for Goodwin! Goodwin"
and Mr.. j. b. Goodwin rose to respond. The
crowd yelled for him to take the platform, but
he said he preferred standing where he was.
He believed that this Young
Mems club must result in winning
many votes to tho cause OF
anti-prohibtion. There was time when it
required large share OF moral bravery on the
part OF any young man in Atlanta to come out
and announce himself as an anti. The con-
tumely heaped upon such young men amounted
almost to intimidation. But now things have
undergone a change. Now the prohibitionists
have adopted new methods. They have
eschewed the weapons of yituperation and per-
sonal abuse and have, as Dr. j. b. Hawthorne
the bright apostle, naively says, decided
to win them over by Kindness"
lie was glad of this change. He
knew of no reason why any young man should
not come out and openly declare his adherence
to the cause. at would have been more com
Portable" he continued, "f0r me to have kept
my seat and permitted others TO speak for me
to have RETAINED from any active participation
in the campaign. But IL is impossible for mo
TO do 50. AS long as / live in a free country
viii speak my true sentiments, give expression
to my convictions, and L win never wear any
mans political yoke. This is the time for
every one TO take stand in favor Of personal
liberty. This is the same liberty which the
founders of the constitution fought for.
The issue Is not in any sense a political
one. But even the republican party has not
assumed position in favor of sumptuary leg
islation. AS democrats l. do not understand
how any one can undertake to advocate laws
which deprive citizens of that liberty guaran-
teed to them by the constitution Of the coun-
try. / do not believe that any young man has
anything to lose by identifying himself with
party whose principles are those Of personal
liberty. If ] were required to sacrifice my
hopes Of political preferment or TO gtultify my
self by advocating measure which / knew 10
be antagonistic to true principles of liberty
and the genius Of our constitution, 1 should
unhesitatingly elect to abandon all hopes Of
political prcfcrmcnt." IGreat applause.
The next speaker was Mr.. William Hanson
who responded 10 a general call. "This is
decidedly unexpected call" said he, as no
faced the audience, land do not know that
can iittingly respond, as | am a comparative
stranger here. only came 70 this country
about six months ago. am an Engishr /
by birth, but an American by adoption. i ,n
thus as much a citizen Of the United States as
/ ana Of the old country. Long before / crossed
the ocean / regarded this as an ideal free coun-
try, whore the citizen was permitted TO
enjoy tho largest share Of personal
liberty and license not incompatible with
public morality. When | came here / was
Surprised to find that I,had entertained erron-
eOus ideas regarding the liberty enjoyed by the
American citizen The longer 1 have been in
this country the more have been impressed
with the fact that tho liberty Of the citizen is
constantly being cncroached upon by unjust
legislation, cZacting restrictions and onerOus
sumptuary laws. The citizen is actually in
danger Of being deprived Of his liberty. II
this thing continues, the result will be that
here in this boosted country Of freedom and
liberty the laws will be more grinding than
they are under the car Of the kussias.